Since 1965
The Story
1965
Built as the Normville
Culham Engineering, Whangarei. A 76-foot double-ended steel car ferry for the Fuller family. Christened by Mrs A.N. Fuller with a bottle of champagne on the bow.
1966–85
The Opua–Okiato run
Nearly 20 years of cars, livestock, and a 6-bullock team to Urupukapuka for the filming of Savage Island.
1985
Renamed Rawhiti
Sold to the Hokianga County Council. Blessed, renamed, working the harbour for over a decade.
1999
Peter & Stacee Honey see something else
They sailed her back to the Bay of Islands with a caravan strapped to the deck. Three years of conversion. She became the only overnight cruise in the Bay.
2007
Jonny & Sarah Greener take her on
Still friends with Peter and Stacee. Still running the same idea.
Now
27 seasons in
10,000 travellers a year by 2030. The infrastructure for it is being built this winter.
"She cruised through the big breakers that hit us going out through the Hokianga - then just kept smoothly continuing on around the cape and back to the Bay."- Peter Honey, who built the Rock